Evening View - At Garde Manger

Tonight my able homo-guide to Montreal treated me to dinner in Old Montreal at Garde Manger, a highly-regarded place recently made more famous because of a reality show starring its owner, which is now running on the Food Network in Canada. I recommend the halibut. And the scallops. And the bartender. Definitely the bartender.

FRIDAY: JMG Meet-Up At Gotha

Hello Montrealers, we're planning a little JMG-meetup at Gotha Salon Bar on Amherst at 9PM on Friday (tomorrow.) I imagine the night will continue from there to far more debauched locales, but we'll start with pretty. Hope to see you there!

Slaggie Gilamonster Talks To Bilerico

Pink Cars Get Stolen The Least

According to a study of stolen cars, painting your ride pink is more effective than just about any theft-deterrent system.

"A study in the Netherlands illustrates car thieves' preferences. From 2004-2008, the most commonly colored vehicle stolen was black. This may be because black vehicles look more luxurious. Following close behind black were gray/silver automobiles. Of the 109 pink cars in the study, not one was stolen. A bright and uncommon color, like pink, may be as effective deterrent as an expensive security system. Ben Vollaard, who conducted the research, wrote, 'If the aversion to driving a car in an offbeat color is not too high – or if someone actually enjoys it – then buying deterrence through an uncommon car color may be at least as good a deal as buying deterrence through an expensive car security device.'"

"Honey, I just wonder what you doin' in the back of your pink Cadillac."

Family Research Council: Repealing DADT Will Increase Male Rapes And HIV

MEMPHIS: Death Threats And A Dead Cat For Sponsor Of LGBT Rights Ordinance

Memphis city councilwoman Janis Fullilove is paying the price from God's Gentle People™ for sponsoring an LGBT rights law. So far she's received four telephoned death threats and the body of a dead cat tossed on her front lawn.

Police think the threats are serious enough have increased patrols around her home to keep her safe. All four calls came Tuesday and each call mentioned the proposed employee non-discrimination ordinance. Someone also threw a dead cat on her lawn. Each phone call mentioned her support for banning discrimination against gays in city government. Distraught, Fullilove reached out to Jonathan Cole with the Tennessee Equality Project. "She essentially said that they were threatening to kill her," said Cole, who thinks the death threats are just another example of intolerance in Memphis. "It's scary and our city needs to stand up to this kind of ugliness." Police are keeping a close eye on Fullilove and her family. She's asked her telephone provider to track the calls. Meanwhile, Cole says the councilwoman's experience should highlight the need for the ordinance to protect gays and lesbians working for the city.

Fullilove (great name!) says the threats will not make her back down. The vote on her legislation is expected to come on August 10th.

NOM Supporter Father Michael Becker: God Did Not Create Anal Sex

Towleroad provides the transcript:

"If you want to get to the nuts and bolts of it in the male homosexual world, I think the most heinous act is anal sex. Now, if anybody were to think about that in truth, they would say one person is being harmed by this act, which is why there are so many gastrointenstinal afflictions that come to many homosexuals that do this, and other kinds of afflictions. When you look at that individual act, you say, 'Did God create that? No way.' And would you ever want one of your children or grandchildren to be submitted to that kind of act? No."

Quote Of The Day - Anne Rice

"For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being 'Christian' or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten ...years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else.

"In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of ...Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen." - Famed novelist Anne Rice, from her Facebook page.

NOM Speaker Compares Gays To Pedophiles, Satan, and Adolf Hitler

Another lovely NOM speaker, Pastor Brad Brandon, as compiled by Think Progress. Read their dissection of Brandon's bigotry. It's astounding.

GetEQUAL Calls On Lady Gaga To Join Artists Boycott Of Arizona

GetEQUAL's message to Lady Gaga:

Lady Gaga, Please be a lady FOR our community. The state of Arizona is EXTRA right now. A wave of laws like SB 1070 is making it a crime to be brown and putting whole communities at risk. Both migrant and LGBTQ communities know what it is to have to fight for our full human dignity to be affirmed. You have the opportunity to play a special role in that fight in Arizona. Communities have called for a boycott of the state to make it happen. As an icon and beloved artist, please join us in boycotting Arizona and turn your trip into an opportunity to meet your little monsters in the migrant LGBTQ community so that you can speak out against the hateful laws and be a champion for this human rights cause.

If she does join the boycott, will Elton John call her a fuckwit?

AZ Gov. Jan Brewer Calls On The Nation's Teabaggers To Send Money

Afternoon View - Visitation & St. Catherine

In the summertime, the main street through Montreal's gay village is closed to traffic.

The Next Governor Of Tennessee

Apparently, he's an internet sensation.

NEW JERSEY: Attorney General Nixes Investigation Of Park Killing By Cops

New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow has turned down requests that her office launch an independent investigation into the killing of DeFerra Gaymon, who was shot in a Newark-area park by an undercover detective who now claims Gaymon made a sexual advance on him. Gayman was a Georgia business executive who was in town for his 30th high school reunion.

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey formally requested Dow open an inquiry into the fatal shooting of DeFarra Gaymon, 48, during a confrontation with the officer in Newark’s Branch Brook Park. The detective was investigating complaints about people engaging in sexual acts in the park. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the shooting, though the ACLU said, “considering the seriousness of the incident and many unanswered questions, this investigation demands the legitimacy that only an external review can provide.” After meeting with her top officials today afternoon, Dow concluded there was “no indication of a conflict with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office handling this case fairly and impartially,” said her spokesman, Paul Loriquet. “That was never called into question.”

And now the "investigation" remains with the very agency whose officers were involved. Wanna bet how THAT turns out?

New From The Family Research Council

(Via - Good As You)

Cindy Jacobs Joins Call For 40-Day Fast So Jeebus' People Get Elected

ACLU & Lambda Legal Sue Hawaii

On behalf of six local couples, the ACLU and Lambda Legal are filing suit against the state of Hawaii today in a demand for equal rights.

The lawsuit doesn't seek the titles of "marriage" or "civil unions" for gay partners. Instead, it requests that the court system extend them the benefits and responsibilities of marriage based on the Hawaii Constitution's prohibition against sex discrimination. "We continue to be discriminated against," said plaintiff Suzanne King, who has been in a relationship with her partner for 29 years. "We're a family unit, and we live our lives just like everyone else, but we aren't treated the same." The legal action in state court comes as a response to the Republican governor's veto July 6, when she said voters should decide whether to reserve marriage for couples of a man and a woman

The chairman of the Hawaii Christian Coalition objects: "I feel insulted. They keep bringing up Martin Luther King, black rights and women's sufferage. This is not about that. This is about two males or two females practicing sex. It's behavior. It's no different from smokers or drinkers."

Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Plans Donkey Parade To Counter Gay Pride

Angry over the planned gay pride parade in Jerusalem, the city's ultra-Orthodox deputy mayor wants to parade 50 donkeys through the city on the same day.

"This expresses what we think -- that this is a beastly act," Rabbi Yitzhak Pindrus, who represents the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party on the city council, told the Ynet news website. His spokesman Menahem Zaide declined to link the donkey march to the parade, saying only: "Donkeys also have rights to be recognised as couples. We are in favour of donkey rights," he told AFP. However, Zaide said they were still awaiting permission from the agriculture ministry. About 1,000 people were expected to take part in the pride parade under heavy security.

In 2007 marchers at Jerusalem Pride were pelted with eggs and human feces by ultra-Orthodox protesters.

Today In Crazy Teabaggers

The Gay Gestapo Is After Ruben Diaz

According to Rev. Jason McQuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom, we're gay Nazis for opposing Sen. Ruben Diaz.

“To work for or against candidates that one feels strongly about is the democratic process in America, but this latest Nazi-esque attempt to dig up dirt on a public official’s private life crosses the line,” said McGuire. “Senator Diaz has been a lightning rod for same-sex marriage activists displeased with his strong defense of the family. Same-sex marriage activists are merely looking for ways to agitate the deep pockets of their base in an election year. They know that Sen. Diaz has been a strong advocate for the Hispanic and African-American communities. He is loved by the people of the Bronx, and has nothing to fear from the gay Gestapo.”

In 2008, Diaz bused 10,000 Hispanic evangelicals into NYC to beat their bibles and chant about homosexual damnation. And we're the Nazis? Incidentally, Diaz is now campaigning for the return of Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate. Because having a convicted spouse abuser in the state Senate is OK, as long as he hates queers.

Open Thread Thursday

Here am I in Montreal, not speaking a single word of French. Boo me. What languages do you speak? Which are you learning?

Evening View - Square Ville

The bathroom in my Montreal hotel room has a square toilet. OK, then.

Huckabee Guest: Obama's Socialism Is Bringing Us To The End Times

Tim LaHaye is the zillionaire author of the Left Behind series, which have sold 65 million copies to date. But he wants even more money, hence the "Obama is bringing us to the End Times" crapola. Marketing!

Ex-Soldier To Tony Perkins: Repealing DADT Will Lead To Gay Spooning!

Grum - Through The Night

It's like a gay version of Beastie Boys' Sabotage.

(Tipped by JMG reader Foxy)

Condoleezza Rice Duets With Aretha

BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Part Of Arizona's Racist Immigration Law

And the part being blocked is the bit that got most of us so angry.

In a ruling on a law that has rocked politics coast to coast and thrown a spotlight on the border state’s fierce debate over immigration, United States District Court Judge Susan Bolton in Phoenix said some aspects of the law can go into effect as scheduled on Thursday. But Judge Bolton took aim at the parts of the law that have generated the most controversy, issuing a preliminary injunction against sections that called for officers to check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws and that required immigrants to carry their papers at all times. Judge Bolton put those sections on hold while she continues to hear the larger issues in the challenges to the law. “Preserving the status quo through a preliminary injunction is less harmful than allowing state laws that are likely preempted by federal law to be enforced,” she said. “There is a substantial likelihood that officers will wrongfully arrest legal resident aliens,” she wrote. “By enforcing this statute, Arizona would impose a ‘distinct, unusual and extraordinary’ burden on legal resident aliens that only the federal government has the authority to impose.”

Activist judges! AGAIN! Wait, I can't hear you over all those exploding Freeper heads!

UPDATE: AZ Gov. Jan Brewer says she'll appeal.

HomoQuotable - Andrew Sullivan

"It is worth noting, once again, how utterly hollow the Vatican is on the subject of homosexuality. It is an institution so embedded with homosexuality it makes Broadway look straight. The stories I've heard! The network of gay priests is vast in Rome, and is, in my mind, as unhealthy for those who get away with it - the hypocrisy must hollow out the soul in the end - as for those who impose it. Instead of grappling with this fact, owning it, and seeking to diversify the priesthood by ending the celibacy requirement and men-only anachronism, the Vatican clings on to denial and repression.

"And as society and the actual church evolves - as both must - the denial and repression must increase in proportion - until the sheer ridiculousness of the whole thing becomes apparent even to the most devout. Increasingly, on these issues of modernity, the Vatican of the new millennium seems like the Soviet Politburo of the 1980s. They pretend to believe what they preach while we pretend to obey them. One day, this surreality will pop like a bubble. One day." - Devout Catholic Andrew Sullivan, responding to the latest gay scandal at the Vatican.

RELATED: If you ever get a chance to sit down with our Father Tony, ask him for a few of his juicier stories from his time serving at the Vatican. "Gayer than Broadway" is putting it mildly.

LOS ANGELES: Latino AIDS Memorial Vandalized With Yellow Paint

Karen Ocamb reports that the Wall Las Memorias in Los Angeles has been splashed with yellow paint by unknown vandals.

The Wall Las Memorias – an inspirational art project dedicated as a Latino AIDS monument on World AIDS Day in 2004 – has been vandalized. Apparently a mother went to see the name of her son on the Wall in Highland Park and found a section of the mural splashed in yellow paint. The Wall’s founder Richard Zaldivar told me: “The vandalism was done to the section of the AIDS mural that depicts a child saying, ‘I once knew a child with AIDS.’ And so it is really sad and very troubling that someone would use this opportunity to damage a piece of art that was created for the purpose HIV prevention and education to our community.

Las Memorias Project will update the story on their Facebook page.

Save The Date!

Dammit! Why does Jeebus always have to come back on the weekend?

Marie Exley of Colorado Springs is convinced that Armageddon, the end of the world as written of in the Bible, will come next year. Her conviction is so strong that, though unemployed, she’s paid $1,200 to buy advertising space on 10 Springs bus benches through October to get the word out. The ad says, “Save the Date! Return of Christ: May 21, 2011, WeCanKnow.com.” “I want to do all I can to get the message out,” Exley, 31, said. Exley got the idea for the ads from listening to Family Radio, a Christian broadcast heard on 55 stations in the United States, including KFRY, 89.9 FM, in Pueblo. It’s hosted by controversial Christian leader Harold Camping. Camping predicts Christ will return on the date in Exley’s advertisement. Listeners in other states have also purchased outdoor ad space to proclaim the date. The ads are written and designed by the creators of WeCanKnow.com, an Ohio-based web site devoted to reminding people of Christ’s return. “We hope it raises awareness and sends people to their Bible,” said Robert Dunham, spokesman for WeCanKnow.com. “Time is running out, but there is still time for salvation.”

The Mayans are going to be pissed about this.

MICHIGAN: Federal Judge Upholds Dismissal Of Anti-Gay Student Counselor

A federal judge today upheld Eastern Michigan University's dismissal of a graduate student who refused to "affirm homosexuality" when counseling gay students. Julea Ward's case has been a hot topic on Christianist and rightwing blogs, who maintain hers is just the latest in the homofascist campaign to stifle anti-gay dissent at the nation's universities.

In an order granting summary judgment to the university on Monday, Judge George Caram Steeh of the U.S. District Court in Detroit held that the university's requirement that the student be willing to serve people who are homosexual was reasonable, and did not amount to an infringement of the Christian student's constitutional rights to free speech and free expression of religion. The university "had a right and duty to enforce compliance" with professional ethics rules barring counselors from being intolerant or engaging in discrimination, and no reasonable person could conclude that a counseling program's requirement that students comply with such rules "conveys a message endorsing or disapproving of religion," Judge Steeh wrote.

The Alliance Defense Fund, a coalition of Christian lawyers that is helping to represent the student, Julea Ward, issued a statement on Tuesday saying it plans to appeal the judge's decision. "Christian students shouldn't be expelled for holding to and abiding by their beliefs," said David French, a senior counsel for the group, which helped out in a similar lawsuit filed against Augusta State University, in Georgia, this month.

Last year Ward refused to treat a suicidal gay student, telling fellow counselors that her religious views prevented her from helping him feel better about himself. Ward plans to become a high school counselor, if anybody will have her after this.

The Love Of Jeebus Is Better Than A Bone

You totally have to wait for the howl-lelujahs.

WASHINGTON: GetEQUAL Activists Arrested At the U.S. Capitol Rotunda

About 20 members of GetEQUAL staged an ENDA protest at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda this morning. An unknown number of the group was arrested. Via Kerry Eleveld at the Advocate:

“In March, GetEqual held a sit-in in Pelosi’s office asking her to bring ENDA to the floor for a vote. At that point, we said we keep coming back until it was voted on,” explained Heather Cronk, GetEqual spokesperson, who was participating in the protest. “So this is us making good on our promise, asking her to make good on her promise over the last few years on ENDA.”

The group of about 20 LGBT activists entered the Capitol as part of a routine tour through the Capitol. Upon reaching the rotunda, they sat down and pulled out signs reading, “Pass ENDA Now!” and “This Is Your Reminder.” Meanwhile, they began their signature chant, "I am ... somebody ... I deserve ... full equality." Eight to nine people were risking arrest in the action, according to Cronk, with the other half present to provide support including a couple legal observers.

The story is still developing. Following along at GetEQUAL's Twitter feed.

UPDATE: Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner reports that eight arrests were made and provides the below video of the protest.

Glenn Beck's Campaign Of Fear

Read Media Matter's analysis of where Glenn Beck's fear-mongering is taking us. And definitely check out Mother Jones' expose of Goldline, his primary advertiser.

Tweet Of The Day - Ryan Leslie

Real World cast member Ryan Leslie has bowed to pressure from GLAAD and issued the above apology. On Friday, Leslie said he would "smash your fucking gay face" in a squabble with another Twitter user. However, Leslie is continuing his war of words with the same guy.

MenuPad

Not very cost-effective, but whatevs.

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

What's In Ruben's Closet?

As part of their campaign to unseat arch homophobe NY Sen. Ruben Diaz, Fight Back NY has launched "What's In Ruben's Closet," a public call for dirt on our state's most evil politician.

Sen. Ruben Diaz has an annoying political survival instinct, but we want to set the record straight. We can help shift the playing field by showing that Diaz is not only bad for LGBT people – he’s bad for New York. With just 6 weeks to go before the primary, we need your help to fund a search into Ruben's closet. We'll post our research online, so his opponents, the media, and voters in his district will know the real Ruben Diaz.

Hit the link above to help fund this research.

Continental Tests Self-Boarding

Already in use in some part in Europe (as seen above), Continental Airlines has begun testing self-boarding procedures in Houston.

Boarding a plane without an agent to inspect or take your pass has arrived in the USA. Continental Airlines has confirmed it's testing the procedure at a gate at its hub in Houston Intercontinental. It's the first experiment at what's called "self-boarding" in the U.S. In self-boarding, passengers — much like customers of the New York City subway— swipe their boarding passes at a kiosk reader at the gate. That opens a turnstile or door to the jet-bridge. Although an agent isn't there to take the pass, one is typically present to handle problems and other customer service tasks. Continental declined to provide further details on its experiment. The Transportation Security Administration, which is in charge of air security, "determined it does not impact the security of the traveling public," says Greg Soule, a TSA spokesman, adding all passengers are screened at airport checkpoints prior to arriving at boarding gates.

Lufthansa tells USA Today that self-boarding is "only a little faster" but frees up gate agents to help passengers with other problems. I doubt that's Continental's plan.

Wyclef Jean Mulls Bid For Haiti President

Former Fugees lead singer and activist Wyclef Jean is mulling a run for president of Haiti.

The Grammy-winning musician's brother, Sam Jean, just told me that Wyclef has already put together the necessary paperwork he will need to file by August 7 if he decides to launch a campaign. "It's an opportunity that he's exploring and exploring seriously," said Sam, who is a spokesman for Wyclef's Yele Haiti Foundation. "But it's not really coming from him, to be honest. Most of the population in Haiti is under the age of 26, I believe, so the youth have really clamored to him. They're the ones who are really excited and have said to him, 'Hey, why don't you run for president?'" Asked if he thought his brother will run, Sam said, "There's a very good chance."

Jean's disaster relief foundation has been accused of financial mismanagement. But he probably couldn't do worse than Haiti's last few presidents.

RELATED: Popular salsa musician and actor Ruben Blades ran for president of Panama in 1994, but only scored 18% of the vote.

CALIFORNIA: New Poll Reports Majority Of Catholics Support Gay Unions

Via Catholic Culture:

A survey of over 3,000 Californians conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in June has found that Catholics strongly support the legal recognition of homosexual unions. Only 22% of white Catholics and 23% of Latino Catholics oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions. 37% of white Catholics and 44% of Latino Catholics support same-sex marriage, while an additional 41% of white Catholics and 28% of Latino Catholics support homosexual civil unions. In contrast, 53% of Latino Protestants oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions. The survey did not distinguish Catholics by frequency of Church attendance. “Protestants are much more likely to hear about homosexuality from their clergy than Catholics,” the survey report added. “Only 29% of white Catholics and 42% of Latino Catholics report hearing about homosexuality from their clergy.”

Freepers say the poll's respondents are CINOS (Catholics in name only.)

Activist Of The Day - JMG Reader Birdie

Give it up to longtime JMG reader Birdie for standing up to NOM for all of us.

INDIANA: Lesbian Says She Was Punched By A NOM Rally Attendee

She shrugs it off, but somebody should turn her story into a NOM-esque victim video, complete with their tragic piano music.

Bill McCullom: George Rekers Was The Best Anti-Gay "Expert" We Could Find

Florida AG Bill McCullom still opposes gay adoption, despite his $120,000 payment to George Rekers turning into a national laughing-stock. "I don't believe the gay family model is good for the kids."

PhoboQuotable - Rabbi Yehuda Levin

"The latest outrage, the sodomy celebration in Jerusalem, specifically planned to begin in an ultra-religious neighborhood, is nothing less than the spiritual rape of the Holy Land with the active support of the Israeli State, her courts and her police. This is just the next stage of confronting and silencing religious opposition locally and worldwide.

"This Perversion Pride Parade would never be countenanced in Mecca, the Vatican, Karbala, or Moscow, where the mayor and Russian Orthodox Patriarch vigorously oppose it. The 'brave' 'progressive' Israeli Government and Supreme Court would never dream of allowing the parade route to include Arab East Jerusalem or the Al Aqsa Mosque. The Moslem community locally and worldwide would never tolerate this. Just ask Arab Knesset member Sheikh Ibrahim Sarsur. Thus we see the Israeli elite treating religious Jews with less respect than their Arab co-citizens." - Rabbi Yehuda Levin, spokesman for the Rabbinical Council of America.

MINNESOTA: Mother Of Gay Son Shops At Target For The Last Time

Via Towleroad, here's a Minnesota mother of a gay son making what she says is her final shopping trip to her local Target "until they make this right." It's a lovely video.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck: Older Women Become Lesbians Due To Lack Of Men

(Via - The Advocate)

The REAL Reason For NOM's Hate Tour?

According to the Human Rights Campaign's VP Fred Sainz, the real reason for NOM's national Hate Tour is to draw out harassing counter-protesters so that those incidents can be using in court to thwart donor disclosure laws. Because SEE, we really DO get attacked by violent homofascists! Via press release from the HRC:

"The bus tour is a total sham, plain and simple," said Fred Sainz, HRC's vice president of communications. "NOM's highly-touted bus tour is less about so-called 'traditional marriage' and more about creating an elaborate and cynical stunt. NOM rolled out a summer of nationwide events in order to draw lawful protesters, all so that NOM and its allies can pepper ongoing lawsuits challenging public disclosure laws with made-up stories of harassment. This unprecedented victimization crusade is the lowest denominator of political activism, and it won't fly."

In events in seven states, NOM has routinely played to crowds reportedly as small as two dozen people including NOM staff members. The organization's public statements on the bus tour have barely mentioned the content of the programs or the substance of its anti-LGBT message, instead focusing attention on much larger counter-protests that NOM has attacked as intimidation and harassment. NOM issued a press release last Friday saying that LGBT supporters have "approached and threatened children," engaged in "bullying tactics" and committed acts of harassment. However, NOM's uncorroborated claims belie legitimate local media reports demonstrating that pro-equality supporters, which have vastly outnumbered NOM's faithful, have been civil. NOM has yet to document any illegal activity or actual harassment, despite the presence of law enforcement at all the events.

NOM's efforts to trump up false claims of harassment are part of a radical nationwide plan to evade long-established public disclosure laws and to hide their political activities from legitimate scrutiny and accountability. In doing so, NOM has falsely alleged that their donors have been harassed and intimidated across the country to justify why it shouldn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else. These tactics have prompted a state ethics investigation in Maine and recent court defeats across the country.

I think Fred Sainz has nailed it.

Photo Of The Day - NOM Fail Wisconsin

Hundreds of happy and proud LGBT folks jammed NOM's Hate Tour stop in Madison, Wisconsin today. On the bigots side, a meager 54, according to a head count by the Courage Campaign's NOM Tour Tracker. Lots more photos at the link, with more to come.

NOM's Gay Marriage Solution

JMG reader Rob Tisinai sends us his remake of the sign flaunted yesterday at NOM's rally in Indianapolis.

Target CEO Defends LGBT Record In Face Of $150K Donation To Anti-Gay Group

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel has sent a letter to all employees defending the company's track record on LGBT issues. This comes after the revelation that the retail giant had donated $150K to a Minnesota group that funds the campaign of a candidate with ties to an anti-gay Christian rock band. The band and its leader openly call for the executions of homosexuals. Steinhafel's letter reads, in part:

As you know, Target has a history of supporting organizations and candidates, on both sides of the aisle, who seek to advance policies aligned with our business objectives, such as job creation and economic growth. MN Forward is focused specifically on those issues and is committed to supporting candidates from any party who will work to improve the state's job climate. However, it is also important to note that we rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda. 

In the context of this contribution, some of you have raised questions regarding our commitment to diversity, and more specifically, the GLBT community. Let me be very clear, Target’s support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company.

The letter goes on to cite Target's 100% rating on HRC's Corporate Equality Index and the company's support of local Minnesota LGBT and HIV/AIDS events. Calls for a boycott and at least one protest at a Minnestota Target store have already occurred.

(Via - The Awl)

REMINDER: Vote For Father Tony!

GayTravel.com's contest to select their North American gay travel guru is in its last few days and our own Father Tony remains a strong contender to become a finalist. Hit the link (they make you register, ugh) and find "Tony Adams" under the "guru" button. Be sure to award him the full five points. Trust me, Father Tony's the man you want uncovering the hot, the not hot, and the seamy underbelly of gay travel destinations. (And he used to live in Montreal, so he knows Canadia too.)

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of The Watsons, today's Swag Tuesday booty is four tickets to see the WNBA's New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Liberty are bringing sports, entertainment and excitement to The World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, all summer long. With All-Star Cappie Pondexter averaging more than 20 points a game, the Liberty are poised to make a strong bid for the playoffs. With tickets starting at just $10, it is truly Liberty for All.For tickets and schedule information, visit NYLiberty.com. When purchasing tickets, use the "joemygod" code for a discount!

The four-pack of NY Liberty tickets is good for games on August 6th, 14th, or 22nd. Enter to win by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC on the selected game days, your winning entry is transferable to your favorite sports-loving homo. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

SPECIAL NOTE: The New York Liberty will be holding their first-ever LGBT Mixer on this Friday, July 30th after the game against Los Angeles. Attend the game and then join some of the players at a post-game party at Madison Square Garden featuring DJ Stacy. Get tickets here.

Your Daily Minute Of Crazy

PhoboQuotable - Brian Brown

"Gay marriage advocates were trying to do an end-run around the normal legal process, and the New Jersey Supreme Court refused to comply. The sense of entitlement among gay marriage advocates is growing so rapidly, it was always absurd to think that the judges would skip the normal steps. Under Governor Christie the state will actually try to defend the marriage laws and protect the people's right to vote for marriage." - NOM's Brian Brown, crowing about yesterday's decision by the NJ Supreme Court not to hear a challenge to the state's civil unions law.

Christianist Preachers Call For 40-Day Fast For Election Of Anti-Gay Candidates

Right Wing Watch tips us to Rev. Jim Garlow and Rev. James Robison calling for a 40-day fast in advance of the midterm elections so that Jeebus will put anti-gay candidates in office. Robison: "I've signed the Manhattan Declaration and I would have signed it in my blood." You might recall Garlow's 2008 claim that "same-sex marriage is worse than terrorism."

True Blood Spoiler Spoiler

Stay out of the comments if you haven't seen this week's episode. Otherwise, dive in and dish.

Quote Of The Day - Ben Stein

"The people who have been laid off and cannot find work are generally people with poor work habits and poor personalities. I say “generally” because there are exceptions. But in general, as I survey the ranks of those who are unemployed, I see people who have overbearing and unpleasant personalities and/or who do not know how to do a day’s work. They are people who create either little utility or negative utility on the job. Again, there are powerful exceptions and I know some, but when employers are looking to lay off, they lay off the least productive or the most negative. To assure that a worker is not one of them, he should learn how to work and how to get along — not always easy." - Wingnut asshole Ben Stein, writing for the Spectator.

Gingrich On The Ground Zero Mosque

HomoQuotable - Evan Wolfson

"Freedom to Marry calls on NOM to repudiate the anti-gay prejudice that underlies its political agenda and fuels its attack campaigns. NOM's "Summer for Marriage" anti-gay bus tour has devolved from a media gimmick to a display of prejudice and incitement to violence. While funneling millions of dollars into political campaigns aimed at stripping away basic protections from gay people and their families, NOM's typical ploy is to conjure up phony claims of harassment and infringement and complain when anyone speaks the truth about its record and agenda.

"But with today's display, the mask slipped, revealing what lies beneath NOM's diversions, protestations, and veneer. The real victims of NOM are committed, loving gay couples across the country who are denied the freedom to marry and the critical safety net that marriage brings. And all Americans are harmed by the divisiveness, prejudice, and violence that NOM's actions invite." - Freedom To Marry executive director Evan Wolfson, responding to the "solution to gay marriage" sign brandished at NOM's rally in Indianapolis yesterday.

Tiffany Vs. Debbie Gibson

(Tipped by JMG reader Michael)

Study Claims Using HIV Meds As Preventive To Infection Is Safe For Negative Gay Men

A study released at the AIDS 2010 conference in Vienna claims that using widely-prescribed HIV medications as a preventive for new infections (PrEP) is safe for HIV-negative men who have sex with men. Please note that effectiveness in preventing infection results have not yet been released on this study.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir (found in Viread, Truvada and Atripla) is safe for men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a U.S. study presented Friday, July 23, at the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Vienna. PrEP is one of the most promising prevention tools on the immediate horizon. With PrEP, HIV-negative individuals take antiretroviral drugs to prevent becoming infected with the virus. The first PrEP studies are testing tenofovir alone (Viread), while several later studies are testing tenofovir plus emtricitabine (Truvada). Currently, all studies are looking at daily ongoing use of the drugs, but future trials are planned with intermittent dosing. The first efficacy results are expected later this year, but researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta presented findings from a safety study at this year’s IAC.

As always, it's important to look at the size and the methodology of this study before making any decisions about your own health care.

RELATED: An unrelated NYC-based survey released last month indicated that the wide availability of PrEP would cause a high percentage of the most at-risk gay men to abandon safer sex practices.

NET NEUTRALITY: Sen. Al Franken Warns That Corporations Will Run The Internet

Calling it the First Amendment issue of our time, during his closing keynote at Netroots Nation, Sen. Al Franken warned that unless net neutrality is preserved, media corporations that are also internet providers will soon throttle the speeds of their competitors, an issue we've long been discussing here on JMG.

(Via - Towleroad)

We No Speak Americano

This has been out for about eight weeks and while in the airport on Sunday, I read that it's gone to #1 or top ten in almost every country in the world. Super super infectious/annoying. The Venga Bus is coming and Crazy Frog is behind the wheel. By an Australian duo using a 1950's Italian sample.

The Internet Is Almost Full!

According to the American Registry for Internet Numbers, we'll run out of internet addresses in about a year.

The main reason for the concern? There's an explosion of data about to happen to the Web - thanks largely to sensor data, smart grids, RFID and other Internet of Things data. Other reasons include the increase in mobile devices connecting to the Internet and the annual growth in user-generated content on the Web.

The plan is to move to the next generation of internet protocols which will use a 128-bit address, versus the current 32-bit system. Google and Facebook have already moved to the new system.

Today In Crazy Teabaggers

Joe The Plumber is making and paying for the airing of ads endorsing fellow teabaggers.

LANDSLIDE: Netroots Nation Attendees Want Sarah Palin As 2012 GOP Nominee

By a huge margin, attendees of Netroots Nation said they'd most like to see Sarah Palin as the GOP 2012 presidential nominee. Heh.

An early release of the Netroots Nation straw poll taken from Thursday through Sunday and obtained by TPM shows that attendees of the convention in Las Vegas overwhelmingly want Palin to mount a presidential bid. Respondents were asked who would they "most like to see" as the GOP nominee to challenge Obama for reelection two years from now. Netroots attendees preferred Sarah Palin, with 48 percent of them choosing her. The next closest vote-getter was libertarian Rep. Ron Paul with 11 percent, followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum with 10 percent and former Gov. Mitt Romney with 9 percent. The others trailed in this order: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (8 percent), Gov. Tim Pawlenty (7 percent), Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (5 percent) and Rep. Mike Pence (1 percent). It's obvious why progressive activists would want Palin to run against Obama, and certainly no reflection of the sentiment of Republican primary voters with two years before they make up their minds. Democrats view Palin as a flashpoint who is easy to campaign against (and who is a great help for Democratic fundraising).

Netroots attendees also named the Reid-Angle battle as their top priority in 2010. (I concurred with the majority in both questions cited here.) For more questions asked of us, hit the top link.

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #41

Hitchcock's Strangers On A Train from 1951!

Tweet Of The Day - Lizz Winstead

I met the hilarious Lizz Winstead (co-creator of the Daily Show) at Netroots Nation. She reads JMG!

RELATED: Listen to a great interview Lizz did with Michelangelo Signorile at Netroots. (Mike interviewed me too, that goes up later this week.)

Choi & Signorile Appear On CNN

The two discuss Choi's recent official discharge, DADT-related activism, and where the movement is headed.

NOM's Solution To Gay Marriage?

Bilerico co-founder Bil Browning just posted this sign seen at today's NOM rally in his hometown of Indianapolis. The maker of the sign agreed to an interview with the Courage Campaign team and just as the interview began, one of the NOM flacks rushed over to warn him, "We don't want anything inflammatory." Watch the clip, the hater says he's had homosexual attractions, but rejected them because they were "from the devil." We should totally use this sign against NOM, as they love to play victim at every opportunity.

AUGUST 5TH: JMG-Sponsored LGBT Fundraiser For Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

If you are in NYC on Thursday, August 5th, please consider joining me, Jeremy Hooper, and Pam Spaulding at Therapy in Hell's Kitchen as we co-host a special netroots fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The event runs 6pm-9pm with a $20 donation. Facebook event page here. And please join Out For Kirsten's Facebook page.

Longtime readers will recall that I was somewhat skeptical of Gillibrand's bonafides when she was plucked out of relative obscurity to replace Hillary Clinton, but since then I've been impressed with her performance and in particular, her advocacy on our behalf. I am therefore honored to lend my name to this event. I hope to see you there.

GetEQUAL & Las Vegas Activist Derek Washington Spar Over ENDA Protest

Via Karen Ocamb's LGBTPOV, here's an audio clip of GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee and Las Vegas Stonewall Democrats chairman Derek Washington sparring over the effectiveness and purpose of GetEQUAL's blockage of the Las Vegas strip during Netroots Nation. This was recorded during Washington's local radio show and things get rolling at the 9:00 mark. Below are photos I later took of the two at a party in Mike Rogers' hotel suite.

Eric McCormack Talks To Rex Wockner

"Will had as much sex on camera as anybody on Friends had on camera. It's a sitcom. Nobody has sex on camera. Will had lots of dates. Will was dating Patrick Dempsey and he married Taye Diggs. I think that a lot of the rhetoric in the kind of anti-Will & Grace press was misguided and was from people that had stopped watching the show about three years earlier.

"A lot happened to Will with regards to romance, with regards to relationships and, like I said, he walked down the aisle in his own apartment with Taye. I think the show actually ended up being -- as much as it got very outrageous near the end, it also got more outspoken. And I think that we weren't necessarily a show for the gay community alone; we were for America to maybe start making some inroads." - Eric McCormack, speaking to Rex Wockner.

Read Wockner's entire interview.

The Love Parade Is No More

Organizers of Germany's Love Parade techno dance party have announced that the 21 year-old annual event is permanently canceled "out of respect to those killed and injured" on Saturday. Nineteen attendees were killed and hundreds were injured during a mass panic in the sole entrance tunnel to the event. Fearing further chaos, police instructed the DJs to continue playing for several hours, since most of those already inside had no idea what had occurred. I'd always wanted to attend the Love Parade, having only gotten a small taste at San Francisco's version of the party in 2006. Below is the 2001 remix of Da Hool's 1997 classic, Meet Her At The Love Parade.

Tens Appear At NOM's Indianapolis Stop

Yet another in an unbroken string of NOM fails. More on this latest embarrassment at the Courage Campaign's NOM Tour Tracker.

A Little Slice Of Gay Vegas

I didn't get to see much of Las Vegas' gay scene as Netroots pretty much kept us busy day and night. But I did get out to Fun Hog Ranch for a couple of hours, where I saw the first cigarette machine I think I've seen in a gay bar in about 20 years. Nice place, just the sort of dive-y bearish joint I tend to prefer these days. The club was hosting the guys in town for Mr. International Deaf Leather, but since the only ASL I know is "pretty girl," I didn't interact much with the crowd.

We also briefly dropped in at Buffalo (empty at 2am) and Piranha, which was packed, but all laser beams, strobe lights, and explosions. That would have entertained me long ago, but not so much in my dotage. At Fun Hog Ranch I met famed drag performer Kenny Kerr, who was pointed out to me by JMG reader David, a recent Vegas arrival from New York. Kerr and I chatted a bit about the renewed success of RuPaul, which Kerr feels is quite undeserved. To put it mildly. And speaking of RuPaul, on Sunday night I ran into Drag Race winner Tyra Sanchez, who was performing at the Mirage's gay night in their Heaven nightclub. And that's pretty much all of my gay time in Vegas. I promise to provide much more in-depth coverage of Montreal's nightlife this week.

NOM Hearts Justin Bieber?

I guess NOM is a fan because the kid has been hammered with so many gay rumors. But this is strange, even for NOM.

Robyn - Hang With Me

(Via - Towleroad)

Marriage Setback In New Jersey

In a 3-3 split decision (one seat is vacant), this morning the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging the unfairness of the state's civil unions law. The case was brought by Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality. Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner quotes GSE:

“Because of the legislature's inability to act and the Supreme Court's decision today, New Jersey continues in a caste system where an entire people are thrown aside into a profoundly inferior status, spit on, dumped on, utterly degraded, by hospitals and employers who mock the term "civil union." Children will continue to live with an imprimatur of inferiority, psychologically devastated because they can't marry or because their same-sex parents cannot marry. Same-sex couples will continue to be denied the consistent right to visit one another in the hospital, to make medical decisions for one another, and to receive equal health benefits from employers, all because of the deprivation of the equality and dignity that uniquely comes with the word ‘marriage.’

I Went To Chippendales!

Several hours after I posted a Morning View shot of the Chippendales Theatre last Wednesday, I got a charmingly effusive email from their publicist, Randy Slovacek (above), who outed himself as a longtime JMG reader and invited me to the show. So Friday night, in the company of fellow activists Phil Attey, David Castillo, and Zack Ford, we were seated in the Olivia Newton-John booth (SRSLY!), enjoying free booze, and ogling a dozen or so redonkulously hot dancers.

Most of the 99% female audience appeared to be on bachelorette excursions and at times the screaming reminded one of a 747's backwash. The show was slick and high-tech, with projected graphics, light effects, many set changes, and we were surprised that there was live singing and guitar playing. Randy told us that while none of the current cast members are gay, they've had gay dancers in the past and that the show is very welcoming of gay men. At one point, I thought poor Phil was going to have a coronary when the dancers were out working the audience and made a beeline over to our booth. But all we got was friendly bro-hugs. After the show, Randy presented us with gift bags containing a Chippendales calendar and a poster. Such a nice man. We had a blast.

Ted Haggard: I Have Over-Repented

Ted Haggard now claims that he has "over-repented" for his encounters with rentboy Mike Jones, that he has no same-sex attraction, and that what occurred between he and Jones was merely "a massage gone awry."

"Ted Haggard," Mr. Haggard said, "needs to be leading a church." He acknowledged grave lapses of judgment in the episode he refers to as "my crisis." But Mr. Haggard also said that in his sorrow and shame, he accepted too much guilt after the scandal broke. "I over-repented," he said. In February 2008, Mr. Haggard asked to be released from supervision by other clergy. His former church, New Life, consented, though officials there put out a pointed statement calling Mr. Haggard's recovery incomplete.

The four pastors who supervised Mr. Haggard wouldn't comment on his new church. New Life pointed to an earlier statement, released in November 2008, that said, "we cannot endorse his return to vocational ministry." Mr. Haggard said that is ridiculous. He portrays his encounter with the prostitute as a massage that went awry and said he doesn't have same-sex attractions. He dismisses as a "witch hunt" the findings of his former church that he engaged in a pattern of misconduct, including sordid talk and inappropriate relationships.

Haggard's new church in Denver has been drawing a large enough crowd that they will soon move into a bigger facility.

(Tipped by JMG reader Hersch)

Netroots Nation 2011: Minneapolis

Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas closed this year's confab with the answer to one of the week's hottest topics. Netroots Nation 2011 will be in Minneapolis. (The last five: Las Vegas, Chicago, Austin, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas.) I had a blast during my one visit to Minneapolis, back in 2005 for the InterPride conference. Unfortunately, Netroots 2011 will take place in mid-June, the height of gay pride season, so I imagine some of this year's LGBT attendees will have some scheduling conflicts to deal with.